Vehicle heater



Gab y 1933 w. F. GOETZ ET AL 3,881,492

VEHICLE HEATER Filed Aug. 29. 1930 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Gate El, 1932 PATENT FFIE WILMER, F. GOETZ AND JULIUS F. GDETZ, 0F HARTFORD, WISCONSIN VEHICLE HEATER Application filed August 29, 1930. Serial No. 478,628.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle heaters and more particularly to heaters which are adapted to utilize exhaust gases from the vehicle engine.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved vehicle heater which utilizes only the air within the body of the car, and which does not draw in air through the hood to subject the occupants to the danm gers of noxious gases.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle heater embodying a novel arrangement for circulating the heated air within the vehicle so that said air is s efficiently and quickly carried to all portions of the interior, and in which the motorfor the circulating means is so positioned as tobe in-v sulated from the radiating portion of theheating unit.

0 A further object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle heater in which the radiator portion is of one piece construction so that the possibility of leakage of the exhaust gases therethrough is eliminated.

1 A further object of this invention is to provide a heater of the class described which may be used either with or without the circulating system in o eration.

It is a further ob]ect of this invention to provide an improved vehicle heater which will attain a high temperature and heat quickly, which issimple in construction, which is strong and durable, and which is Well adapted for the purpose described.

4 With the above and other objects-in view, the invention consists of the improved vehicle heater and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the heater and dash board of a vehicle, parts being broken away, taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof with the casing removed, parts being broken away, and parts being shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a frontelevation with the casing in position.

- Referringrto the drawing, thenumeral 5 designates the usual dash board of a vehicle. The radiator portion 6 of the heating unit ispreferably substantially oval in shape, as indicated, and is provided with a hollowed interior. The lower portion of the unit has extending rearwardly therefrom tubular portions 7 and 8 which form the inlet and outlet conduits for the heater. Spaced from the end of said tubular portions 7 and 8 is'a surrounding flange or collar 9 having apertures therein through which bolts 10 may be inserted to secure the radiator to the dash board, the extreme outer ends of the tubular portions 7 and 8 projecting through an opening in the dash as shown in Figure 1. The radiator portion 6, the inlet'and outlet passage ways 7 and'8 and the collar 9 are an entirely one piece construction thereby eliminating any possibility of leakage of the exhaust gases which are circulating through, the unit. Fins 11 are preferably formed on the radiator portion 6 at spaced apart intervals to provide an efiicient heat radiating surface.

On the other side of the dash, or on the side beneath the hood of the vehicle, an L-shaped bracket 12 is secured, said bracket being preferably held in place by the bolts 10 which ex- 1 tend through the collar 9 and through the dash board. Mounted on the upper portion of said bracket is an electric motor 13 of usual construction, and having a drive shaft 14 extend, ing therefrom through an openin 15 in the dash. On the outer end of said s aft a fan 16 is rigidly mounted so as to be rotatable on g the side of the dash adjacent the 'drivers seat and next to the rear of the radiator portion 6. A suitable switch (not shown) may be used in connection with the motor to control the starting and stoppin of the same, and a rheostat may also be emp oyed to regulate the driving speed.

Tubular members 16 and 17 are secured by means of a set screw 18 within the ends of the tubular extensions 7 and 8, and said tubu- 10o lar members 16 and 17 are adapted to be connected in the exhaust line of the vehicle. One of said tubes is adapted to serve as an inlet for exhaust gases and the other is adapted to serve as a return for the same. A suitable valve may ;be utilized in the connection between the inlet tube and the exhaust line so that all or portion of the exhaust gases may be by-passed through the radiator 6.

A casing member 19 is secured by means of bolts 19' to the radiator 6, said bolts being received in extensions 20 of the heating unit. A suitable cover 21 having a grilled front is riveted or otherwise secured to the front of the casing-to prevent contact .with the radiator 6 but permitting air to circulate around said radiator. The casing is preferably formed with side louvers 22. j

In operation, when it is desired to heat a vehicle, the valve in connection with the inlet tube is opened to permit the exhaust gases to pass through the tube 16 through the tubular extension 7 through the radiator 6 and back through the tubular extension 8 and outlet tube 17. Due to the fact that the exhaust gases are utilized directlyfo'r heating purposes, a ver high heat is obtained in a minimum perio of time. The motor 13 is then started to operate the fan 16. Said fan will create a circulation of air within the-car causing all portions thereof to become quickly heated. When the car has been heated to a desired temperature, either the valve in the inlet tube and the motor may be turned ofi, or

just the motor. In the latter case, the heat will not be circulated as eificiently, but when it is desired to again turn on the fan, due tothe fact that the radiator has in the meantime reached a very high heat, reheating of the vehicle will be very quickly accomplished.

In certain prior constructions, the motor 13 has been positioned adjacent tothe radiator of the heating unit. In this arrangement,the heat from the unit in time causes injury to the motor, and such an arrangement is therefore ,undesirable. In applicants construction, it will be noted that the motor is located beneath the hood on one side of the dash, and that the heating unit and fan are located on the other side of the dash adjacent the drivers feet. Thus, the dash will efi'ectively insulate the motor 13 from theheat of the radiator 6.

It is further to be noted that the construction is very compact, and that it may be quickly installed by merely drilling several holes in the dash and by inserting the bolts 10 through the collar 9, through the dash board, and throu h the bracket 12.

Althoug only one form of the invention has been shown and described, it is not desired to be limited to this exact disclosure, as the broad concept of the invention includes all changes and modifications as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

1. A vehicle heater comprising a radiator portion for receiving a heating medium po sitionable on one side of a partit on of the vehicle so as to be within the body of the latter, a fan positionable on the same side of the partition adjacent said radiator portion, an electric motor for driving said fan posit-ionable on the other side of the partition so as to be protected from the heat of the radiator, a driving connection extending from the electric motor through the partition to said fan, and common means cooperable withthe partition for securing both the radiator and motor in position thereon.

2. In a motor-driven vehicle having adashboard, a heater comprising a tubular radiator portion embodying a return bendv mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle within the passenger space thereof, tubular inlet and outlet extensions in connection with said radiator portion extending through the vehicle dashboard, and tubularmembers for connection with the vehicle exhaust line connected to said inlet and outlet extensions on the side of the dashboard beneath the Vehicle hood so that any leakage through said connections will take place outside of the vehicle passenger space.

outside of the assenger space, a support forsaid motor, a an within the passenger space a driving connection extending from the motor through the dashboard to said fan, and means extending through the collar, dash-; board, and motor support for securing all of said parts in position.

4. In a motor driven vehicle having a dash board, a heater comprising a tubular radiator portion mounted on the dashboard of the ve-v icle, within the passenger space thereof, tubular inlet and outlet extensions in, connection with said radiator portion extending through the vehicle dashboard, and tubular members for connection with the vehicle ex-. 'haust line connected to said inlet and outlet extensionsvon the side of the dashboard beneath the vehicle hood so that any leakage through said connections will take place outside of the vehicle passenger space.

5. In a vehicle having a dashboard pro vided with openings therein, a heater comprising a tubular radiator portion within the r of the vehicle adjacent said radiator portion,

radiator portion, a fixed collar surrounding said extensions and spaced from the ends thereof, said ends passing through one of the openings in the dashboard to a position outside of the passenger space, an electric motor, a support for said motor adjacent the dashboard, a fan adjacent the radiator portion and driven by said motor, and common means for securing the collar and motor support in position on the dashboard.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

WILMER F. GOETZ. JULIUS F. GOETZ. 

